Prices of European PE fell for CIS markets in October

MOSCOW (MRC) -- October contract price of ethylene was settled in Europe down by EUR10/tonne from the previous month. However, some European producers agreed to cut export prices for polyethylene (PE) more than the monomer price decrease for deliveries to CIS markets in October, according to ICIS-MRC Price Report.

Negotiations over October prices of European PE began at the end of last week. All market participants said European producers decided to reduce the export prices of propylene polymers, and in some cases the price decrease is recorded more than the decrease in the price of propylene in the region.

Deals for October shipments of low density polyethylene (LDPE) were discussed in the range of EUR830-900/tonne FCA, whereas last month's deals were done in the range of EUR840-960/tonne FCA.

Deals for October shipments of high density polyethylene (HDPE) were discussed in the range of EUR820-900/tonne FCA, whereas last month's deals were done in the range of EUR830-910/tonne FCA.

Many buyers reported an increase in the supply of polyethylene from a number of European producers, although some positions of PE remain limited, in particular, black PE100.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SABIC Europe, an affiliate of Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), has shut its No. 6 cracker in Wilton (UK) for a scheduled maintenance, reported Chemweek.

The flaring was registerend on 29 September.

The turnaround at this cracker which has an annual ethylene capacity of 865,000 tonnes and propylene capacity of 415,000 tonnes will be conducted during approximately 75 days.

As MRC wrote before, SABIC Europe unexpectedly shut its No. 6 cracker in Wilton on June 17, 2020, due to technical issues. It came back online on 25 June.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall PE production totalled 1,712,400 tonnes in the first seven months of 2020, up by 58% year on year. Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) accounted for the greatest increase in the output. At the same time, overall PP production in Russia increased in January-July 2020 by 24% year on year to 1,063,700 tonne. ZapSibNeftekhim accounted for the main increase in the output.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) ranks among the world's top petrochemical companies. The company is among the world's market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Indian state refiners’ annual gasoline sales rose to pre-COVID levels in September and a fall in diesel sales slowed, as the loosening of lockdown restrictions boosted energy consumption and economic activity, provisional industry data showed, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Last month, gasoline sales by state refiners saw their first annual growth since March, underpinned by a gradual lifting of coronavirus curbs even as India suffers one of the highest infection rates in the world. India’s fuel consumption- a proxy for oil demand- was hard hit by a nation-wide lockdown imposed in March to stem the spread of Covid-19.

Indian state retailers sold 2.2 MM tons of gasoline last month, up 1.85% from a year ago as the sale of passenger cars surged and as motorists increasingly rely on personal vehicles to commute amid rising coronavirus cases. Gasoline sales were up 10.5% from August.

Gasoil sales were at 4.84 MM tons, down 7.3% from a year ago but up 22% from August, according to data provided by the country's top refiner Indian Oil Corp. A continued recovery in gasoline and gasoil sales, which accounts for over half of the refined fuel consumption in India, would help improve refinery runs further.

IOC’s crude processing last month improved due to a recovery in fuel demand, its chairman M.S.Vaidya said, betting that fuel appetite could return to pre-covid levels this quarter. State companies IOC.NS, Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Bharat Petroleum own about 90% of India's retail fuel outlets.

State retailers sold 2.3 MM tons of liquefied petroleum gas in September, 5.3% higher than last year and up 3.6% from August. Jet fuel sales last month rose 23.4% from August to about 290,000 tons, but fell 53% from a year ago as curbs on air travel remained in place.

As MRC informed earlier, Indian Oil Corporation proposes to leverage its growing petrochemical operations to expand textile business as it looks to diversify operations and offset risks associated with oil operations. At a recent Asia Pacific oil summit IOC chairman S M Vaidya reportedly said that petrochemical expansion is being targeted by the company as it gives the company ability to de-risk from lower refining margins.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russian plants' total PP production grew to 158,800 tonnes in July, compared to 149,400 tonnes a month earlier; ZapSibNeftekhim, Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Poliom increased their capacity utilisation. Russia's overall PP production reached 1,063,700 tonnes in January-July 2020, compared to 854,500 tonnes a year earlier. Five out of eight producers raised their capacity utilisation, with a new producer - ZapSibNeftekhim - accounting for the main increase in the output.

Indian Oil Corporation Limited, or IndianOil, is an Indian state-owned oil and gas corporation with its headquarters in New Delhi, India.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- European PVC producer Vinnolit has decided to close its 50,000 tons/year polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plant in Schkopau, Germany due to the lack of profitability and the lack of long-term competitiveness of the location in the current environment, reported NCT with reference to the company's press release.

Vinnolit expects provisions worth around EUR29 million to be incurred in the third quarter in reference to the closure, the press release said.

Customers will continue to be supplied from the larger plants in Burghausen, Gendorf and Cologne, it added.

As MRC informed earlier, in October 2012, PVC manufacturer Vinnolit officially launched the expansion of its E-PVC plant Burghausen in the "Chemical Triangle" in South-East Bavaria. Thereby, the production capacity of the world"s largest plant for the production of paste PVC increased to 100,000 tons per year. This further strengthened the company's leading market position in specialty PVC.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall PVC production totalled 718,500 tonnes in January-September 2020, down by 0.3% year on year. At the same time, only two producers managed to increase their PVC output.

Vinnolit company is a key player in the Russian market of emulsion.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkema has successfully placed its first ever Green Bond fully dedicated to the financing of its new world-scale plant in Singapore to manufacture 100% bio-based Rilsan polyamide 11, according to the company's press release.

For a total amount of EUR300 million, this Green Bond has a maturity of 6 years and an annual coupon of 0.125%. The offering was more than 10 times oversubscribed.

By offering innovative solutions to its customers, notably in the field of lightweight materials, new energies and bio-based products, Arkema aims to generate responsible growth contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals defined by the United Nations.

With this unprecedented Green Bond, fully aligned with Arkema’s CSR policy, the Group is financing its new world-scale plant in Singapore, a major innovative and sustainable project at the heart of its organic growth strategy. This plant, scheduled to come on stream in 2022, is designed with state-of-the-art technology in order to maximize its efficiency and minimize its environmental impact, and will be dedicated to producing 100% bio-based amino 11 monomer and Rilsan® polyamide 11 from castor oil, a renewable and sustainable feedstock.

Rilsan polyamide 11 is recognized worldwide for its superior properties and performance in very demanding applications, significantly contributing to the development of sustainable solutions in fast growing sectors, such as mobility and in particular new energy vehicles, 3D printing as well as consumer goods.

As MRC reported earlier, Arkema said in June, 2020, that it had finalized the divestment of its functional polyolefins business to SK Global Chemical. The divestment was announced last year. Arkema says the sale forms part of its strategy to refocus the group’s activities on specialty materials.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall PE production totalled 1,712,400 tonnes in the first seven months of 2020, up by 58% year on year. Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) accounted for the greatest increase in the output. At the same time, overall PP production in Russia increased in January-July 2020 by 24% year on year to 1,063,700 tonne. ZapSibNeftekhim accounted for the main increase in the output.

Arkema is a global manufacturer in specialty chemicals and advanced materials, with 3 business segments - High Performance Materials, Industrial Specialties, and Coating Solutions - and globally recognized brands. The Group reports annual sales of EUR8.8 billion. Buoyed by the collective energy of its 20,000 employees, Arkema operates in close to 55 countries.
MRC